Metro bus driver charged with assault

By
Washington Post Editors

A Metro bus driver has been charged with assault after allegedly getting into a fight with a customer over the bus fare.

Metro Transit Police charged Vento Mickens with simple assault on Friday. Mickens was driving a 71 bus to Buzzard Point when the alleged incident took place near Georgia Avenue and Van Buren Street NW.

Metro spokeswoman Cathy Asato says that Mickens, who had worked for Metro for more than 23 years, is on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

Let's understand Metro's ofical position regarding bus driver interaction with unruly passengers. If a driver is in his seat and is PHYSICALLY attacked by a passenger he is NOT allowed to fight back. He has a phone above his head that he is expected to use to call for help. Of course nothing prevents the passenger from continuing his attack while the operator is trying to make the call. Common sense would indicate that the operator must first stop the physical attack so he can call for help. Unless he can stop it verbally he must take physical action to stop the attack. That results in a charge of simple assault. Notice that it was the Metro police who charged him not the District police.